University of Ghana to set up an Endowment Fund to address growth challenges

Accra, March 14, GNA- The University of Ghana, (UG) Legon, is setting up an endowment fund to address the impact of growth in areas including finance, accommodation, curriculum development, governance and administration that negatively affect the academic institution.

The support received under the fund is expected to lessen the burden o= n the university in recruiting, training and socialisation of staff and students, setting and maintaining of standards as well as examinations and awarding of certificates. Mr Kofi Annan, Chancellor of UG, made this known on Saturday at the second congregation held in Accra for 4,500 graduating students for the 2009/ 2010 academic year.

The graduates were made up of 551 diploma and certificate recipients, 3,471 under-graduates, 478 post-graduate candidates, with 10 graduating wit= h PhDs. Mr Annan called on stakeholders in the education sector to support the endowment fund when it is launched to address the challenges posed by the growth of the university.

"If the problems of higher education can be reduced to the problems of growth, the problems of growth can in turn be reduced to those of inadequat= e resources," he stressed. He paid glowing tribute to Professor Clifford Nii Boi Tagoe, Vice Chancellor of UG, for 25 years of dedicated service to the university, the last four of which he served as the Vice Chancellor. "We say thank you and good bye to Prof. Tagoe in advance, in additio= n to whatever else the university might decide to do to honour him=85 The university's sincerest appreciation goes to you for everything you have e= ver done for her and will continue to do in future," he said. Prof. Tagoe, whose term of office as the Vice Chancellor of the university comes to and end on 31st July, said beginning August this year, work done by all students in the first year, would count towards the determination of their degrees.

"It is hoped that this would motivate students to plunge into seriou= s academic work as soon as they are admitted to the university," he said. Prof. Tagoe said university requirements for graduation have now undergone changes in content and structure and now include Language Skills and Academic Writing, Critical Thinking, Logic and Behaviourism, Liberal an= d African studies, Science and Technology in our lives and Numeracy Skills. The subjects are aimed at providing a more engaging learning environment, judicious use of academic facilities and encouraging greater interaction between students and their lecturers.

He said in line with the four- year degree programme, the Faculty of La= w would from the 2011 and 2012 academic year; reintroduce direct entry into the LLB programme adding that 93this will see the faculty of law operating= a mixed intake system with one group made up of first degree holders and the other of senior high school graduates."

Prof. Tagoe said the university was examining various scenarios for the admission of graduates from the senior high school system in the 2011, 2012 and 2013 academic years against the backdrop of a possible reversal to the three year senior high school programme.

He said the university remained the destination of academic choice for many people and urged the students not to be deterred with the latest repor= t on the ranking of universities in Africa and in Ghana that sought to place UG on a lower platform.

He urged the students to consider the ranking merely as a guide to propel them to greater strides.

"Be humbled and principled in all your dealings and you are sure to go far in whatever you set your mind to do. I encourage you to avoid the temptation to get rich quick but to pace yourself and to set specific targets for your further education, career advancement and family life," he said.

Mr Charles Cofie, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Ghana Limited, expressed confidence in the university's ability to produce a breed of qualified students who would be able to create new knowledge that would result in innovative products and services in the business world. He urged the graduates to be critical thinkers whose innovations would help make the country function as the hub for West Africa in the areas of business, agriculture, tourism, logistics and social services. Dr Elsie Effah Kaufmann, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering Science, who is also the hostess of the National Science and Mathematics Quiz television programme, was adjudged winner of the 2009 Best Teacher Award for the sciences.